The 1394 standard defines the maximum cable length as 4.5 meters. There is a maximum of 4 or 5 hops (I don't recall exactly) allowed between any two nodes, which implies that the maximum distance between any two nodes is either 18 or 22.5 meters. I have seen working prototypes of optical fiber solutions that can go 50 meters between nodes, but I don't know if there is anything actually shipping to support this.

----------
From: 	Michael Gogins[SMTP:gogins@nyc.pipeline.com]
Sent: 	Friday, October 23, 1998 9:13 PM
To: 	eli+@cs.cmu.edu; Csound mailing list
Subject: 	Re: Interpolation schemes and SB Live!

I should add that as far as I know (not far at all!), FireWire wires have a
limited length, which might not cross a wide stage. Does anyone know off the
top of their head whether this is true and, if so, what is the maximum
length?  I'll research this if we don't hear from one who knows.


-----Original Message-----
From: Eli Brandt 
To: Csound mailing list 
Date: Friday, October 23, 1998 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: Interpolation schemes and SB Live!


>Michael Gogins wrote:
>> This is a very interesting site because this outfit appears to be working
>> with Analog Devices on an Extended Csound related project, and with
Yamah=
>> a
>> on a FireWire protocol for both multi-channel real-time digital audio,
an=
>> d
>> MIDI information.
>>
>> I think we should talk to the Pavo people and see what the specification
=
>> of
>> their FireWire protocol is, and whether any manufacturers (Yamaha?) are
>> going to make controllers for it.
>
>Sounds like this is Yamaha's mLan proposal -- specs and such at:
>http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tech/1394mLAN/
>
>This is very promising stuff.  1394 is fast enough to push a lot of
>data, and mLan does it isochronously for good timing.
>
>My understanding of the process here is that mLan was developed
>within the 1394 group; industry MIDI and audio groups are now getting
>on board, harmonizing with their notions, maybe negotiating tweaks.
>Might still be a bit before gear hits the streets.
>
>--
>     Eli Brandt  |  eli+@cs.cmu.edu  |  http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~eli/